Haldwani Protest: While hearing the petition challenging the Uttarakhand High Court’s decision to remove encroachment from 29 acres of railway land in Haldwani, the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s order. Moreover, the Supreme Court has sent a notice to the Railways and the Government of Uttarakhand. The next hearing of this matter will be on 7 February. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice S.A. Nazir and PS Narasimha’s bench gave approval for hearing after advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the matter.

Encroachment At Uttarakhand’s Haldwani

The encroachment led 4000-home resident to protest, pray and beseech official not to go ahead with the demolition. The protesters have claimed to have land lease, the areas even has 4 government schools, 11 private schools, a bank, two overhead water tanks, 10 mosques and 4 temples, beside shops that are built over decades.

While following the court’s order of December 20 after a long litigation, the district administration, has issued a notice in the newspapers asking people to take away their belongings by January 9. It covers a 2-km strip of land near the Haldwani railway station, Gafoor Basti, Dholak Basti and Indira Nagar, in Banbhulpura area.

The District officials carried out an on-ground inspection. Meanwhile, the protesters continued to hold candle marches, sit-ins and prayers to stop the eviction.

A congregational prayer, ‘Ijtemai dua’, was performed by hundreds of them at a mosque in the locality. Imam of Masjid Umar, Maulana Mukim Qasmi, told ANI that people collectively prayed for a solution. Some of the protesters were seen crying.

Ahead of activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan made a formal mention in the Supreme Court, a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice SA Nazeer and PS Narasimba said it would be heard on Thursday.

Also Read: Haldwani Row: Will Protest Turn Out To Be Shaheen Bagh 2.0?

Haldwani Protest: Political Leader & Activist Supports

Several political leaders and activists blamed the BJP-led Government for action against an area where most residents happened to Muslims.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat held an hour-long ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) at his home. “Uttarakhand is a spiritual state,” he said, “If 50,000 people including children, pregnant women, old men and women are forced to vacate their homes and come out on roads, then it would be a very sad sight.”

“The Chief Minister is the guardian of the state. My silent fast for an hour is dedicated to [Pushkar Singh Dhami],” he said.

Mr. Dhami has said his government will respect the Supreme Court’s decision.

Despite of several appeals, District Magistrate Dheeraj S Garbyal, however, said, “People stay here on railway land. They have to be removed. Our preparations are going on for this. We have demanded force. We’ll remove them soon.”

-Bharat Express